Frequently Asked Questions
What does a college admissions consultant do?
A college admissions consultant, counselor or coach is a trained professional who works one-on-one with a student to help them create the most competitive college admission application. They may do this by helping the student identify best-fit schools, recommending high school courses, extracurricular activities and other opportunities that will build up their resume as well as managing timelines and assisting with application submission, personal statements and essay writing.
The goal of a college admissions consultant should be to not only help the student put together the best possible admissions application, but to also alleviate stress, identify unique opportunities, and act as a guiding voice throughout the entire process to help preserve family harmony.
When is the best time for a student to start working with a college admissions consultant?
While it is never too early or too late to start planning for your child’s future, we begin offering our Early College Planning services to students in eighth grade. This allows us the opportunity to help them navigate their entire high school career to put them on path to the college of their dreams. Our College Boot Camp is available for high school juniors and seniors and provides one-to-one support for the entire college selection and application process. We also have plenty of students reach out during their senior year for guidance on a specific application or essay.
No matter where you are in the process, whether we join you for part of your journey or are with you from the very start, your student can benefit from working with one of our independent college consultants.
What types of students do you work with?
We work with public, parochial, private, boarding, international, and home-schooled students, serving a broad range of racial, ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds as well as special interest students such as NCAA eligibility, learning differences and creative arts. We can assist students looking at liberal arts colleges, research universities, military colleges, highly selective colleges and Ivy League schools. Our goal, regardless of the student, is always to get them into the school that’s right for them.
How do I get started with Beyond College Consulting?
Call us today at (630) 414-1014 or complete our online contact form and someone will get back to you shortly.
Why hire an independent college admissions consultant?
Most school counselors aren’t able to give students the focused guidance they deserve. But an independent college admissions consultant can provide dedicated assistance with every aspect of the admissions process.
At Beyond College Consulting, our focus is your student. We work one-on-one, mapping out a clear and comprehensive plan to get them from where they are to where they want to be. We can help them find their best-fit colleges, choose courses and extracurriculars, plan their summers, plan for tuition, prepare for interviews, write application essays and more.
How can Beyond College Consulting help my child?
Beyond College Consulting works with students and their families to offer custom college planning and application consulting. Before we start filling out applications, we want to make sure your student is applying to colleges and universities that are a good fit for their academic success and personal growth. Our goal is to help them find schools where they are going to thrive so that they can succeed during and long after college. Then we’ll work on putting together a personalized academic plan that plays into their unique strengths and interests in order to set them on a course toward the school, career and future they desire.
What consulting services do you offer and how much do they cost?
Beyond College Consulting offers two comprehensive services, Early College Planning and College Boot Camp, based on the grade of your student. Cost will vary based on the services you choose and your individual needs. Contact us with your specific needs for more details.
How many hours of consulting will my student need?
Every student and family is different, which is why our services are always tailored to your specific needs. If there are specific aspects of the college selection and application process you most want our assistance with and have a limited amount of time, let us know and we’ll plan accordingly to ensure you get the most out of our time together.
Can you guarantee that my student will be admitted to a college?
No, college admissions are never guaranteed, and it would be unethical to do so. What we can guarantee is that we will work with your student to discover their greatness, find schools that are a good fit for them, and help them put together the best admissions application they can to show their potential and increase their odds of standing out and getting accepted.